Anti-Abortion Campaigners Hit Streets Of Belfast

Anti-abortion campaigners held a rally in Belfast city centre last night, in opposition to the full legalisation of the practice in Northern Ireland.

Precious Life assembled at the city's Europa Hotel to raise awareness for their cause.

Abortion is not illegal in Northern Ireland.

An abortion can be administered by a doctor who deems it necessary to preserve the life of the mother.

However, many doctors defer the decision due to moral or legal reservations, meaning many women from the Province travel to England to undergo the procedure.

The legal precedent in Northern Ireland was set by the Bourne case in 1938.

Dr Alec Bourne agreed to perform an abortion on a young woman who had been gang raped by a group of soldiers and became pregnant. Dr Bourne was subsequently prosecuted.

Bourne argued that it was necessary to perform the abortion to preserve the health of the young woman.

The judge agreed that forcing her to continue with the pregnancy would have been tantamount to wrecking her life.

The doctor was not convicted. This case set a legal precedent for performing an abortion to preserve a woman's mental health.

However, anti-abortion groups are now fighting central government recommendations that will apply amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act to Northern Ireland.

This would give women in the Province the same rights are their counterparts in the rest of the UK.

At last night's rally, pro-life campaigner Bernadette Smyth said there was "no need for any change".

"We value life here - the UK needs to look to Northern Ireland to see how many women in crisis are supported and helped.

"I think the UK must change their law to come in line with Northern Ireland to ensure that all unborn children in the UK are protected," added Ms Smyth.

(PR/JM)